Macclesfield manager David Moss paid tribute to the Irons' veteran strike partnership of Steve Torpey and Martin Carruthers who proved the difference between two ordinary teams.
"Their front two gave us more problems than any other partnership this season and if they'd been in my team we'd have won the game."
He then slammed some shocking defending from a back line that sleepwalked through the afternoon.
"I don't care what system you play or if you think it's offside," he added. "If a player makes a run then you've got to go after him. Both the second and the third goals were simply shocking defending."
Scunthorpe manager Brian Laws was not in a generous mood after the match either.
"I'm delighted with the three points but I'm very disappointed and angry that we've conceded two goals in the final minutes," he said.
"However, I suppose you have to expect that with a young side."
He then turned on referee Uriah Rennie. "We had to put up with Uriah Rennie today," he said.
"He's a Premiership referee who's come down into the lower leagues and is trying to make an impression. Some of his decisions were awful."
Torpey handed Carruthers the opener on a plate in the 29th minute with a simple lay-off for his partner to strike from close range.
Torpey then added a clinical finish of his own with an intelligent chip over the advancing Steve Wilson on the stroke of half time.
Macclesfield looked dead and buried on the hour when Torpey converted a Carruthers cross with a powerful downward header to the far corner.
Macclesfield were handed a lifeline in the 83rd minute when defender Mark Jackson was adjudged to have barged down an Andy Welsh shot, allowing Danny Whitaker to lash home his first spot kick for the Silkmen.
They then teased the crowd with another goal in the dying moments, Kyle Lightbourne looping a header over Tom Evans from ten yards